WE HAVE just finished a run of five games in 11 days and it has been tough for the players.

With injuries mounting all the time, we have had to ask a lot of the players to play a lot of minutes.

It’s a huge ask for players to perform to their maximum with their bodies not having the right amount of time to recover, but I think praise must go to the entire squad for the work-rate they have put in during this period.

At times, the football has been excellent too, but the effort has been first class in every game. Other teams will have to endure the same demands in the weeks coming up and I am sure that it will make for some interesting results.

On the injury front, we have been missing Matt Partridge, Wes Daly, Shaun McAuley, Neil Barrett, Manny Williams, Simon Dunn and Jordace Holder-Spooner. That’s an impressive list of injuries!

Wes and Shaun are nearing fitness but we will need to assess them closer to the weekend, while Manny has a sore groin and is very doubtful for Saturday.

Neil and Simon have hamstring injuries that are likely to sideline them for a few weeks, while Jordace has a sore knee and is a doubt for Saturday. Matt Partridge has trained with Reading this week, so we are waiting to see if there has been any reaction to his ankle injury.

This Saturday will be our biggest test of the season so far. Sutton are flying at the moment and believe they have a real chance of automatic promotion.

They have an excellent attacking squad with some real steel defensively.

Our depleted squad will have to dig deep once more in order to get something from the game.

Regards,

Jason